Frank OrdoÃ±ez / The Post-Standard Rick Bargabos at his cattle at his farm in Peterboro.
A frontrunner has emerged from the slate of candidates looking to unseat New York State Assemblyman Bill Magee from the seat he has controlled for 20 years.

Smithfield Supervisor Rick Bargabos picked up a key endorsement from the Madison County Republican Committee Thursday, a week after receiving support from Oneida County Republicans.

The beef cattle farmer announced his candidacy earlier this month at events across the three-county district.

He competed for the nominations with two other candidates, lawyer David Vickers of Erieville and businessman Shawn Skeele of DeRuyter. Political newcomer Stephen Dodge, of Lenox, also has announced his campaign for the seat as an independent candidate.

Magee, a Democrat from Nelson has announced he will seek his 11th term representing the 111th District.

He has faced no opposition in his last three runs for office.

Therese Dancks, who chairs the Madison County Republican Committee, attributed the wealth of candidates to frustration with Albany.

“I think that the competition is good for all of us in the long run,” Dancks said. “It helps more clearly shape the issues that are of concern to the people in the community.”

Bargabos said his decision to run was motivated by a desire to restore responsible government spending and improve the legislative process.

“I want to help move the state forward and create a better environment for the future of businesses, agriculture and residents,” said Bargabos, who also chairs the Madison County Industrial Development Agency Board of Trustees.

Bargabos has expressed respect for Magee’s service to the district that includes chairing the Assembly’s agriculture committee for nearly a decade.

But he said a change is needed in Albany to turn around the state’s out-of-control finances.

“Twenty years is long enough,” he said.

Otsego County’s Republican committee will likely weigh in on the race in the coming week.

Bargabos, Skeele and Vickers also are seeking endorsements from local Conservative and Independence parties, which have scheduled meetings in May.

The Madison County Republican committee also nominated Matt Doheny, of Watertown, as its candidate for the 23rd Congressional District and endorsed incumbent Madison County Treasurer Cindy Edick.